MI - Monika Johnson, 2, drowned, parents charged, Dearborn, 3 June 2016

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Parents charged in 2-year-old's drowning in Dearborn

Both charged with second-degree murder, other charges


By John Steckroth - Digital news editor

Posted: 10:48 AM, June 10, 2016
Updated: 3:40 PM, June 10, 2016

DEARBORN, Mich. - The parents of a 2-year-old girl who died after falling into a neighbor’s pool in Dearborn were charged with second-degree murder and are expected to be arraigned Friday.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office authorized charges for the parents on Thursday.

James Johnson III and Amber Johnson were charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. The judge explained the charge of second-degree murder as "a death caused by reckless disregard for human life." ...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/parents-charged-in-2-year-olds-drowning-in-dearborn
 
Parents of 2-year-old who drowned in pool charged

Holly Fournier, The Detroit News 4:24 p.m. EDT June 10, 2016

The parents of a Dearborn toddler who drowned last week in a neighbor’s pool were arraigned Friday on charges of second-degree murder, police announced Friday.

Amber Johnson and James Johnson III are also charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. They appeared before Judge Sam Salamey in 19th District Court.

The couple’s 2-year-old daughter was found unresponsive around 10:25 a.m. June 3 in a neighbor’s swimming pool. She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and later died.

According to police, the girl and her 3-year-old brother got out of their home while their parents slept, climbed a chain-link fence and got into their neighbor’s backyard...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne.../06/10/parents-drowned-pool-charged/85694436/
 
I wonder if there is more to this story. The parents were asleep when the kids snuck out and went next door. But were the parents passed out drunk or something? Or just sound asleep after a hard day of work? If kids leave when a parent is asleep, are they usually charged with murder if the child dies accidentally?
 
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...gn=Breaking News Alert&utm_term=wdiv_breaking



Neighbors in the area say police have been to the girl’s home before and the kids are often found wandering the neighborhood.

“Those kids seem to be escape artists, but I think they’re just negligent parents who are sleeping all the time,” neighbor Vincent Laing said.

Police confirmed that child protective services had been involved at some point.

I suspect there's drugs involved along with serious neglect.



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OK, that makes more sense. It was an ongoing situation of neglect...
 
Lots more here...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...parents-girl-drowing-charged-murder/85715228/

Salamey entered not guilty pleas and set bond at $1 million cash or surety, no 10%, after police asked for it and argued that the two were flight risks and had recently been given notice they would be evicted from their home.
Dearborn police Cpl. Emilee Williams told the court there is a misdemeanor case in which they are involved that happened a week earlier and said the couple is a danger to their other children.
“Parental rights have been terminated as of right now,” she said. “This is not the only case that’s going on.”


And here...

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/157253418-story

While police would not comment on any drug or alcohol involvement that morning, neighbors say that sadly, they're not exactly surprised.

"That's not a good environment for kids," said Reppenhagen. "Child Protective Services have been over there a couple of times."

"They've had a history of calls to that location," Haddad said.


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I wonder if there is more to this story. The parents were asleep when the kids snuck out and went next door. But were the parents passed out drunk or something? Or just sound asleep after a hard day of work? If kids leave when a parent is asleep, are they usually charged with murder if the child dies accidentally?

Mother dances in a strip club. Father is unemployed.

While not in text, the parents' employment or lack thereof is mentioned in this video: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/parents-charged-in-2-year-olds-drowning-in-dearborn
 
Another case of apparently neglectful parents. Breaks my heart. :(
 
Monika's parents were in court yesterday and were ordered to stand trial for the drowning. They have another court appearance next week. Will post a media update when I find one.
 
From June 11th:
Parents of child that died from falling into pool have history of incidents - Story | WJBK
[...]
"I want to know why we’re being charged," Amber said in court.
[...]

Embedded video & More@Link:
http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/157253418-story

:furious:

I'm still searching for an update on the latest appearance....
ETA: I emailed the reporter who wrote this story & asked for an update on the latest appearance. I think they were on calendar for July 1st. With such high bail amounts, I'm really surprised not one single MSM outlet managed to post an update. I just realized my email to her had my days wrong (it's Saturday today :blushing: ). I hope she doesn't hold that against me!

:crossfingers:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
From June 11th:
Parents of child that died from falling into pool have history of incidents - Story | WJBK
[...]
"I want to know why we’re being charged," Amber said in court.
[...]

Embedded video & More@Link:
http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/157253418-story

:furious:

I'm still searching for an update on the latest appearance....
ETA: I emailed the reporter who wrote this story & asked for an update on the latest appearance. I think they were on calendar for July 1st. With such high bail amounts, I'm really surprised not one single MSM outlet managed to post an update. I just realized my email to her had my days wrong (it's Saturday today :blushing: ). I hope she doesn't hold that against me!

:crossfingers:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:tyou: for your diligence in finding a media source. I can't find one but saw a report last evening on WDIV and heard report on WWJ radio. The grandmother testified that she has told her daughter and son-in-law repeatedly that they have to be more responsible for their children's whereabouts and safety. Judge ordered them to stand trial with another hearing scheduled for sometime next week.

Will be away much of the day but will check tonight for updates. Have a nice holiday weekend!
 
I am confused. The medical examiner said the death was an accident according to post # 2. How can they be charged with any level of homicide? I must be getting sleepy.
 
Dearborn mother sentenced in daughter's drowning
Father pleads guilty to manslaughter, two counts of child abuse


By Dave Bartkowiak Jr. , John Steckroth - Editor

Posted: 8:44 AM, February 03, 2017
Updated: 12:40 PM, February 03, 2017

DEARBORN, Mich. - A 23-year-old mother who failed to appear at her sentencing last week*was in court Friday to face new charges and learn her original sentencing.*

Amber and James Johnson were sleeping June 3, 2016, when two small children wandered out of their home on*Boldt*Street in Dearborn, police said.*Two-year-old Monica fell into a neighbor's pool and was found unresponsive. She died the next day.

"I wasn't up to take care of my children, and ultimately hurt one of my children, and I'm at fault for that," James Johnson said...

Amber Johnson was sentenced to 11 months in jail without early release and three years on probation. She must follow the recommendations of Child Protective Services and was ordered to take parenting classes...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...-child-abuse-sentencing-in-daughters-drowning
 
I am confused. The medical examiner said the death was an accident according to post # 2. How can they be charged with any level of homicide? I must be getting sleepy.

The parents' negligence led to the accidental death of their child.
 
I thought rights were terminated? Why the parenting classes?
 

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